Beale Street Mama Bessie Smith

Minnie Neal down in Beale
Gave her papa the air
Left him cold, got him told
Said she didn't care
Poor Joe, her beau
Looked just like he would die
If you were near him, you would hear him
Start his mournful cry

Beale Street papa, why don't you come back home
It isn't proper to leave your mama all alone
Sometimes I was cruel, that was true
But papa you know mama never two-times you
Ooh-ooh, I'm blue
So how come you do me like you do, I'm crying

Beale Street papa, don't mess around with me
There's plenty of petting that I can get in Tennessee
I still get my sweet cookies constantly
But not the kind you serve to me
So Beale Street papa, come back home

So how come you do me like you do, I'm crying

Beale Street papa, don't mess around with me
There's plenty of petting that I can get in Tennessee
I bought a rifle, razor and a knife
A postal card can't save my life
So Beale Street papa, come back home